OSHA Issues Plan for High-Hazard Sites

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued its annual inspection plan under the Site-Specific Targeting 2011 (SST-11) program, to help the agency direct enforcement resources to workplaces with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses.

Workplaces that use crystalline silica have long been one focus of OSHA’s National Emphasis Program.

High-hazard workplaces identified in the SST program reported above-average work-related injury and illness rates, based on data collected from a 2010 OSHA Data Initiative survey of 80,000 larger establishments in selected high-hazard industries. Establishments are randomly selected for inspection from a primary list of 3,700 manufacturing, non-manufacturing, and nursing and personal care facilities.

Broader Enforcement Planned

“By focusing our inspection resources on employers in high hazard industries who endanger their employees, we can prevent injuries and illnesses and save lives,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. “Through the SST program, we examine all major aspects of these operations to determine the effectiveness of their safety and health efforts.”

Department of Labor

“By focusing our inspection resources on employers in high hazard industries who endanger their employees, we can prevent injuries and illnesses and save lives,” said Dr. David Michaels, OSHA Administrator.

Two changes have been made to this year’s SST program. In 2010, only those establishments in the selected industries with 40 or more employees were subject to inspections under the SST plan; this year, that threshold has been reduced to 20 or more. An evaluation study measuring the program’s impact on future compliance with OSHA standards has also been introduced for the 2011 program.

As a CIH over a region with dozens of hydroelectric plants and dams we literally have coatings operations ongoing. I continue to struggle with the Contractor's lack of understanding of the hazards and of the implementation of the engineering controls and protective equipment necessary to do the work in a manner safe for the workers and the environment. I can't remember the last time a Contractor came forward with a program that was not merely designed to meet the minimum requirements in the SSPC guidelines and the regs.